Meet the Hope Cottage Staff - Nicole Mahanay



Nicole Mahanay, MSSW

 Nicole Mahanay, MSSW joined Hope Cottage in the fall of 2010 as a Clinical intern and once her internship was completed, she joined our staff full time.  Nicole started out in the Foster to Adopt Programming and is now working with  adoptive families and birthparents as an Adoption Case Manager.

Nicole received her BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) in 2007 from Harding University and her MSW (Master's in Social Work) from University of Texas-Arlington.  She says she enjoyed her internship so much she gladly accepted our job offer.

This is Nicole's first job in adoption, but not her first experience with adoption.  Were it not for adoption Nicole points out, family gatherings would consist of her grandparents, parents, sister and herself.  However, because Nicole's grandparents adopted five children, family gatherings are epic.  On her father's side she as twenty three first cousins.  This adoption story always fascinated Nicole and shaped her decision to choose a career in Social Work so she could help build other families. 

In what little spare time she has, Nicole likes to cook, read, spend time outdoors and spend time with family and friends.  Nicole recently relocated to Dallas from her home town of Burleson and is enjoying exploring all that Dallas has to offer.

When Nicole was six she wanted to be a ballerina, a gymnast, and a chef.  Now that she is older here are a few items on her bucket list:  learn to play the violin, go to New Zealand, and to open a restaurant/bed and breakfast when I retire.

Of her work here at Hope Cottage, Nicole says " I truly enjoy working with the families who come to Hope Cottage seeking to adopt a child.  It takes a very special person to be an adoptive parent and I enjoy being a part of that process."

Hope Cottage is the oldest nonprofit, non sectarian adoption agency in Dallas. Since 1918 Hope Cottage has been building and nurturing strong families through counseling, education and adoption services.

If you have questions about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 214.526.8721.

If you are a woman facing an unwanted pregnancy and would like to talk to someone about adoption, please call Hope Cottage at 1.800.944.4464 or 214.404.4546.